Ken Blake

Can anyone advise me regarding restaurant tipping in Germany?
Does one do it at all? If so, approximately how much?

Thanks.


--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

Juliana L Holm

Ken Blake <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Can anyone advise me regarding restaurant tipping in Germany?
    > Does one do it at all? If so, approximately how much?

Sure. The vast majority of restaurants include a service fee in the cost
of your meal, so tipping is not nearly as important as it is in the US>

However it is good form to tip a little, ususally by rounding up to the
next euro or two.

In Germany, they don't give you a check and come back for your money
instead they bring your check to the table with a big wallet which is
essentially a portable cash register. You give them the money and tell
them how much you want to pay.

For example, if my dinner is 23.15 Euro, I might give them a 50 Euro bill and
ask them to give me 25 back, or ask them to charge me 25.

That would be a big tip.
--
Julie
**********
I could be wrong. My experience is limited to my experience.

Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Keith Anderson

On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 09:58:15 -0700, "Ken Blake"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Can anyone advise me regarding restaurant tipping in Germany?
    >Does one do it at all? If so, approximately how much?

Usual practice is to round up the bill to the nearest whole figure,
unless it comes to (say) 8.90 and you're feeling generous and make it
9.50 or 10.

Give the amount including the tip to the waiter/waitress and say
"Stimmt so".

Alternatively, when they tell you the price (8.90) and you give them a
10€ note, say "Also neun fünfzig." and you'll get €0.50 change.


Keith, Bristol, UK

DE-MUNG for email replies

Ken Blake

In news:[email protected],
Juliana L Holm <[email protected]> typed:

    > Ken Blake <[email protected]> wrote:

    >> Can anyone advise me regarding restaurant tipping in Germany?
    >> Does one do it at all? If so, approximately how much?
    > Sure. The vast majority of restaurants include a service fee
    > in the
    > cost
    > of your meal, so tipping is not nearly as important as it is in
    > the
    > US>
    > However it is good form to tip a little, ususally by rounding
    > up to
    > the
    > next euro or two.
    > In Germany, they don't give you a check and come back for your
    > money
    > instead they bring your check to the table with a big wallet
    > which is
    > essentially a portable cash register. You give them the money
    > and
    > tell
    > them how much you want to pay.
    > For example, if my dinner is 23.15 Euro, I might give them a 50
    > Euro
    > bill and ask them to give me 25 back, or ask them to charge me
    > 25.
    > That would be a big tip.


Thanks very much. If I use a credit card, should I do the
same--round up to the next Euro or two?

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

Ken Blake

In news:[email protected],
Keith Anderson <[email protected]> typed:

    > On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 09:58:15 -0700, "Ken Blake"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> Can anyone advise me regarding restaurant tipping in Germany?
    >> Does one do it at all? If so, approximately how much?
    > Usual practice is to round up the bill to the nearest whole
    > figure,
    > unless it comes to (say) 8.90 and you're feeling generous and
    > make it
    > 9.50 or 10.
    > Give the amount including the tip to the waiter/waitress and
    > say
    > "Stimmt so".


Thanks very much. Same if I use a credit card?

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup

Karl Mentner

On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 17:07:37 +0000 (UTC), Juliana L Holm
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >Ken Blake <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> Can anyone advise me regarding restaurant tipping in Germany?
    >> Does one do it at all? If so, approximately how much?
    >Sure. The vast majority of restaurants include a service fee in the cost
    >of your meal, so tipping is not nearly as important as it is in the US>

You have never ever been to germany? This info is just wrong.
    >However it is good form to tip a little, ususally by rounding up to the
    >next euro or two.

This is how you do it. With the tip you give a comment on how you felt
with the service. The guy who serves you has to pay taxes on the tip -
even if you have given nothing. Rounding up is a good way, tax
authority will do the same.
    >In Germany, they don't give you a check and come back for your money
    >instead they bring your check to the table with a big wallet which is
    >essentially a portable cash register. You give them the money and tell
    >them how much you want to pay.

This might happen in expensive and luxury restaurants - it's not
usual.
    >For example, if my dinner is 23.15 Euro, I might give them a 50 Euro bill and
    >ask them to give me 25 back, or ask them to charge me 25.

This is possible, but also you can wait for the change and take what
you want leaving the tip on the table.
    >That would be a big tip.
Well - it's like saying "we were very satisfied with the service" A
big tip under these circumstances would be 3¤. 5¤ would be
exaggerated.

Ralph

    > Thanks very much. Same if I use a credit card?

Same amount.

With credit card, you've got the option of adding your tip on the form you have
to sign (there's usually a field for that) or else just give drop a coin or two
on the form after you've signed it.

Waving cash under their nose would probably be a tad bit rude. ;-)

--
For contact details, please see www.ralphholz.de.

Ralph

    >>In Germany, they don't give you a check and come back for your money
    >>instead they bring your check to the table with a big wallet which is
    >>essentially a portable cash register. You give them the money and tell
    >>them how much you want to pay.
    >
    > This might happen in expensive and luxury restaurants - it's not
    > usual.

I am sorry? As I understand the OP, she means to indicate the waiter person will
come to your table and you pay then and there. This is entirely correct and
usual practice.

The American way - presenting the bill and coming back later for the money - is
the one you encounter in more expensive places only.

--
For contact details, please see www.ralphholz.de.

Ken Blake

In news:[email protected],
Ralph <[email protected]> typed:

    >> Thanks very much. Same if I use a credit card?
    > Same amount.
    > With credit card, you've got the option of adding your tip on
    > the
    > form you have to sign (there's usually a field for that) or
    > else just
    > give drop a coin or two on the form after you've signed it.


Thanks again.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup


    > Waving cash under their nose would probably be a tad bit rude.
    > ;-)

Juliana L Holm

karl mentner <[email protected]> wrote:
    > On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 17:07:37 +0000 (UTC), Juliana L Holm
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >>Sure. The vast majority of restaurants include a service fee in the cost
    >>of your meal, so tipping is not nearly as important as it is in the US>

    > You have never ever been to germany? This info is just wrong.

Sorry, but I have been to Germany quite a number of times, and while I
may have phrased this awkwardly, the cost of the server is part of the
meal in Germany; waiters and waitresses are paid a decent wage and not
totally dependant on tips.

You are correct that the tip does indeed express satisfaction about the
meal, but it is less important as the income for the server, as it is in
the US. I did not make that clear.

    > This is how you do it. With the tip you give a comment on how you felt
    > with the service. The guy who serves you has to pay taxes on the tip -
    > even if you have given nothing. Rounding up is a good way, tax
    > authority will do the same.

I did not know this. They do this in the US too.

    >>In Germany, they don't give you a check and come back for your money
    >>instead they bring your check to the table with a big wallet which is
    >>essentially a portable cash register. You give them the money and tell
    >>them how much you want to pay.

    > This might happen in expensive and luxury restaurants - it's not
    > usual.

I've been in all kinds of restaurants in Germany, and this is almost
always how they did it, especially in the lower end restaurants. Anywhere
you sit down (some fancy ones, two that I remember) left a check American
style, but the usual is the way I've mentioned it.

    >>That would be a big tip.
    > Well - it's like saying "we were very satisfied with the service" A
    > big tip under these circumstances would be 3¤. 5¤ would be
    > exaggerated.

On this I stand corrected.

--
Julie
**********
I could be wrong. My experience is limited to my experience.

Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Bogey0

I find it much easier using Euros rather than Credit cards, I think
you would get a better exchange rate at the international ATM's, they
are everywhere. Your average meal in a restaurant will run 13-17 Euro
so for two people with drinks your looking at 50 Euro. A Gausthaus
would be less expensive and nicer atmosphere. But anyway you do it
have a nice time. I've been in the Bayern area for almost four years
and really like it.


On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 11:53:29 -0700, "Ken Blake"
<[email protected]> wrote:

    >In news:[email protected],
    >Ralph <[email protected]> typed:
    >>> Thanks very much. Same if I use a credit card?
    >> Same amount.
    >> With credit card, you've got the option of adding your tip on
    >> the
    >> form you have to sign (there's usually a field for that) or
    >> else just
    >> give drop a coin or two on the form after you've signed it.
    >Thanks again.

Juliana L Holm

Ken Blake <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Can anyone advise me regarding restaurant tipping in Germany?
    > Does one do it at all? If so, approximately how much?

    > Thanks.


Here's a little article on how to behave in a German Restaurant:

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/german/abinitio/chap4-13.html

It's pretty useful.


--
Julie
**********
I could be wrong. My experience is limited to my experience.

Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

Claim Guy

"Ken Blake" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > In news:[email protected],


    >> Thanks very much. If I use a credit card, should I do the
    > same--round up to the next Euro or two?

Yes, the same principle applies, even though there is not the same "need" to
try and simplify the exchanging of money by rounding up.
If the service was average, take it up to the next Euro. If it was great,
add another Euro, and if it sucked, just pay the amount shown.

Claim Guy

"karl mentner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...


I must have eaten at different places than you locals on my 7 trips over
there Karl, because I probably paid at the table as the waiter/waitress
tallied up the Rechnung right there more than half the time. Most of the
rest of the time, would recognize I was not European and leave the bill, but
come back later with their wallet looking to settle up at the table.

Ken Blake

In news:[email protected],
Bogey0 <[email protected]> typed:

    > I find it much easier using Euros rather than Credit cards, I


Thanks, but I prefer to use credit cards rather than cash
whenever possible.


    > think
    > you would get a better exchange rate at the international
    > ATM's,


That hasn't been my experience. I use ATMs to get cash for when I
can't use credit cards, but I don't find the rate to be any
better.

--
Ken Blake
Please reply to the newsgroup


    > they
    > are everywhere. Your average meal in a restaurant will run
    > 13-17 Euro
    > so for two people with drinks your looking at 50 Euro. A
    > Gausthaus
    > would be less expensive and nicer atmosphere. But anyway you do
    > it
    > have a nice time. I've been in the Bayern area for almost four
    > years
    > and really like it.
    > On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 11:53:29 -0700, "Ken Blake"
    > <[email protected]> wrote:
    >> In news:[email protected],
    >> Ralph <[email protected]> typed:
    >>>> Thanks very much. Same if I use a credit card?
    >>> Same amount.
    >>> With credit card, you've got the option of adding your tip on
    >>> the
    >>> form you have to sign (there's usually a field for that) or
    >>> else just
    >>> give drop a coin or two on the form after you've signed it.
    >> Thanks again.